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What is Telehealth Care?

Home Telehealth, also known as Care Coordination/Home Telehealth, is a service that allows the Veteran's physician or nurse to monitor the Veteran's medical condition remotely using home monitoring equipment.

Veterans can be referred to a care coordinator for enrollment in Home Telehealth services by any member of their care team. Enrollment is approved by a VA provider for Veterans who meet the clinical need for the service.

A care coordinator gets health information that each Veteran provides through personalized questions answered on special equipment, and then checks in with the Veteran by phone, if needed. If any of the Veteran's health measurements do not seem normal, the care coordinator talks with their physician or nurse and then gets back to the Veteran with next steps.

Am I eligible for Telehealth Care?

Since Telehealth Care is part of the VHA Standard Medical Benefits Package, all enrolled Veterans are eligible IF they meet the clinical need for the service and it is available.

Home Telehealth can be used in combination with other Home and Community Based Services.

There is no copay for Home Telehealth services. However, there may be a copay charge when in-home video visits are provided in addition to standard Home Telehealth services.

What services can I get?

Home Telehealth services are based on your care needs. Home Telehealth equipment may be used to track your:

Blood pressure

Blood sugar level

Pulse

Weight

Blood oxygen level

Heart and lung sounds

You may need a phone line to transfer your health information to VA, however technologies are also available for mobile/cell phone connections. A video screen and camera, or video phone, may also be given to you so that the care coordinator can see you when you talk together. You would be able to turn the video camera off when you are not using it to talk with your care coordinator.

How do I decide if this is right for me?

There's also a Caregiver Self-Assessment. It can help your caregiver identify their own needs and decide how much support they can offer to you. Having this information from your caregiver, along with the involvement of your care team and social worker, will help you reach good long term care decisions.

Your physician or other primary care provider can answer questions about your medical needs. Some important questions to talk about with your nurse or social worker and family include:

Am I willing to use the Home Telehealth technology provided by VA to provide my health-related information daily?

Am I able to adequately see and/or hear in order to use the technology (or is there someone who can help me with this daily)?

Am I ready and willing to fully participate in managing my health?

If Home Telehealth services seem right for you, talk with a member of your care team and then a care coordinator can help you to arrange for services.